Stone catcher



Sept. 4, 1951 H. E. zlTKowsK p 2,566,395 I STONE CATCHER Filed Feb. 18, 1946 2 Sheets-Shem 2 I N V EN TOR. f/erman f. Z/Ikono'k/ A rraA /yfy Patented Sept. 4, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE STONE CATCHER Herman E. Zitkowski, Denver, Colo.

Application February 18, 1946, Serial No. 648,254

4 Claims.

This invention relates to apparatus for removing relatively heavy material from articles adapted to be moved along a passage by liquid, and more particularly to a stone catcher, preferably of the jigging type, adapted to remove sand and stones from sugar beets being carried by water along a flume to a mill.

It is particularly necessary to effectively remove stones and sand from sugar beets, preparatory to extraction of the sugar content therefrom, to prevent damage to mill machinery, such as slicing knives. In a previous type of stone catcher, the beets are carried by water flowing through the stone catcher, and are maintained at or near the top of the body of Water by a jigging motion imparted to the water. Sand and stones settle to the bottom of the catcher, to be periodically removed by hand, as by rakes, shovels, or the like. However, such removal of. collected sand and stones reduces the normal capacity of the apparatus, as it interferes with the normal flow of beets therethrough. Also, a mixture of sand and stones is difiicult to handle effectively, the larger stones tending to interfere with the effective removal of sand, and vice versa. As will be evident, the removal of collected sand and stones should not interfere with the normal progress of the beets, nor should it require an undue amount of the time of an operator. Also, the stone catcher should be sufficiently reliable in operation that constant attention by an operator is unnecessary, and therefore desirably should operate automatically or semi-automatically.

Among the objects of this invention are to provide an improved stone catcher, or apparatus for removing relatively heavy material from articles adapted to be moved along a flume or similar passage by liquid, such as water; to provide such apparatus in which a jigging motion is imparted to the water contained therein, and sand and stones are collected effectively; to provide such apparatus in which the collected sand and stones are removed periodically, either automatically or with little effort on the part of the op erator; to provide such apparatus in. which collected stones are removed without the necessity of the operator plunging rakes or similar tools into the body of water in the apparatus; to provide such apparatus in which the removal of collected sand is accomplished automatically and in synchronization with the jigging motion imparted to the water; to provide such apparatus which segregates the sand and smaller stones from the larger stones; to provide such apparatus in which sand and smaller stones are removed 2 automatically and periodically at different portions of the apparatus; and to provide such apparatus which will be eflicient and reliable in operation. Other objects and the novel features of this invention will become apparent from the description which follows,

Apparatus constructed in accordance with this invention may comprise a passage section havin lateral partitions in the lower portion thereof forming compartments, and valves which are opened and closed automatically at periodic intervals for removing settled material. Such apparatus may also include outwardly sloping grate bars, and a valve in the wall of the apparatus just above the grate bars, for removing larger stones settling onto the grate bars. The jigging motion may be imparted to the water by a plurality of plungers, and the automatic valves are preferably opened and closed in synchronization with the movement of the plungers, preferably by the drive means for the plungers. Additional features and the details of a preferred embodiment of this invention are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a vertical longitudinal section of ap paratus constructed in accordance with this invention;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of'the apparatus of Fig. l; and I Fig. 3 is a lateral vertical section taken along line 3--3 of Fig. 2.

The apparatus illustrated in the drawings includes a tank T having side walls 9, as in Fig. 3, and provided with a jigging section J, as in Fig. 2. Jigging section J is disposed centrally and extends longitudinally of the tank, and the side walls I!) thereof divide the tank into two passages P, each extending between walls 9 and II], as in Fig. 3. Water and beets enter tank T from a flume or the like, through diverging entrance sections l I of Fig. 2, and are discharged to another flume or the like, as through converging discharge sections l2. Jigging section J includes a plurality of cylinders 13, as in Figs. 1 and 3, in which pistons or plungers I4 are reciprocated, each plunger moving on the down stroke at a different time from the other plungers, as is evident from the arrows of Fig. 1. The impulses or jigging motion thereby imparted to the body of water contained within the tank T maintains the water in a constant state of agitation, and thereby maintains the beets in the upper portion of the water within the tank. The water level in the tank T is well above the tops of partitions l5, which divide the tank into sections corresponding to the jigging cylinders l4, so that the thrust imparted to the water during the down stroke of each plunger will be more effectively transferred to the upper portion of the body of water.

The beets and water move through the passages P, at a slower rate than in the flume, so that heavier material, such as sand and stones, separates out and falls downwardly through the water. The beets, of course, are maintained in the upperportion of the body {of water by the agitation'thereo'f. Sand andsmallerstones collect on the bottom l6 of tank T, while larger stones collect on a plurality of outwardly and downwardly sloping grate bars H, which extend transversely from each side wall IU of jigging section J to the lower corners of the tank,-as in Fig. 3. Sand collecting in ,the bottom of each compartment formed between partitions i is removed periodically through ports i|8 in "the bottom l6 of the tank, by means of valves 18, which are preferably opened in synchroniza ,tion with atheqmovement of the plunger directly :above. 'As'in-Flg. Leach valve I9=is opened'as the plunger l3 directly-aboveison the upstroke,

-and-closed atthe beginning of the down stroke,

so that the loss of water will be minimized and "also so that aflow of sand and water from as :great an :area as possible around "the port will take place.

-Astemzuer each-valve t9 extends downward .ly through the corresponding valve port and also througha guide 2|. The valves 18 are opened-by cams 22, mounted on'a shaft 23 which extends longitudinallybeneath the bottom of the tank and -.which is journalled in bearings 24.

The cams 22 are spaced angularly about shaft 23 inpositionscorresponding to the-desired opening of the respective valves, and consequently in positions corresponding to plungers 14. :Each valve stem ;is surrounded by a coil spring 25,

.the upper {end of which engages the guide v2;.l and the lower ,endrof which engagesa flange 26 on thelstem, the coil springs 25 insuring that each valve I9 will close at the proper time and .also,mainta ining each flange 26, which acts'alsc as a cam follower,,in=-contact with the-respective cam 22.

Each plunger :l 4, .as-in Eigs. ;l and. 3,.isactuated by a crank bearing disc 21 mounted eccentrical- :ly on ;a,plunger drive shaft 23, in turn jjournalled in bearings 29 mounted at the ,top .of jiggin section.J, as in Fig. 1. Each plunger I4 .is att-tached-tothelower endof .a connecting rod 30, itheupper endof which is provided with a sleeve bearing 3| in which disc 2.! rotates, to "produce an upward and downward reciprocatory move- .ment of plungers ;l 4 Drive shaft 28 is driven ;f;rom amotor 32, through aspeed reduction unit :33 ,driving a small gear 34, in turn meshing zwith ea, largergear 35 mounted on shaft 28. .Motor 32 and reduction unit 33 are conveniently .mounted on-a framework 36atop jiggingsection .J, as-shown.

In ,accordance with this invention, valve "shaft 23 is driven ,in synchronization with plunger -;dri-ve shaft 28, as by a-chain 38 of Fig. 1 which engages an upper sprockets!) mounted on plunger shaft 28 and a lower sprocket All mounted on valve shaft :23. If desired, sprockets39 and All maybe the same size, so that :valveshaft 23 will be rotated at the ;-same speed as plunger shaft =28. However, as in Figs. '1 and 2, upper sprocket 3.9 may be'only one-half the diameter of ,lowersprocket .40, *so that the valves J9 :will .qpenonlyion.alternateiup strokesof the corresponding plunger. It will be understood that, if desired, the speed of plunger shaft 28 may bear any other whole number ratio to the speed of valve shaft 23.

Stones collecting on grate bars ll are removed periodically, when necessary, by the operator opening gate valves provided by gates 4! of Figs. 2 and 3, one gate valve being provided at each side of each compartment of the tank.

"The stones pass .out through openings '42, which are preferably below "the upper edge of partitions l5, so that there will be little or no opportunity for beets to flow through the gate openings.

Each gate 6! is adapted to slide upwardly and downwardly in guides 43, being moved by a hand wheel 44 connected to the respective gate bya rod 45, and also conveniently mounted, as on top a sidewall 9 of tank T. Preferably, co-operating wedges 46, as in Fig. 3, are provided on guides 43 and adjacent the lateral edges of gates, to insure that thegateswillclosetight- .ly when lowered.

From the foregoing, it will be apparent that apparatus constructed in accordance with this invention fulfills .to :amarked degree the objects and requirements hereinbefore set forth. The inclined grate bars, disposed above the bottom of thetank forseparately collecting larger stones, result in more vefiicient operation, particularly when in combination with the side gates .and automatically operated discharge valves for the sand and smaller stones. It is relatively-easy for the operator to ascertain .when a suiiicient numberof .larger stones is collected in anyone compartment, and .then to .open manually the corresponding-gate .valve for discharge of such larger stones. Also, the automatic discharge of .sand and smaller stones relievesthe operator ,of the more diflicult task of determining when a suificientainount of such-materials. has collected. The separation of the lower portion of the tank into-compartments insures that .the jigging action imparted to the body of water, by the .respective plungers, will effectively separate the beets from .heavier material and will maintain the beets in the upper .portion .of the bodyof water. The opening of asand discharge valve on .an up stroke of the corresponding plunger pre- .a minimum lossof water.

It will be understood, of course, that the princ ples of this invention 'may be utilized in apparatus for separating relatively heavy material from articles other than sugar beets, and that one or more novel features of this invention may be utilized without the remaining features. It

will also be understood that other embodiments of this invention may exist, and that further and additional changes may be made, all without departing from the spirit and scope of this invention.

' What is claimed is:

1. Apparatus for removing relatively heavy material from articles'adapted to be moved along a fiumeby liquid, comprising a tank connected at :each end :to .a fiume; cent-rally disposed walls spaced from the bottom of said tank and providing a pair of passages extending longitudinally of said tank between said central walls and the outer walls of said tank, said passages extending from flume to flume; compartment forming, lateral partitions in the lower portion of each passage; a cooperating cylinder and plunger mounted between said central walls for imparting a jigging motion to the liquid in each compartment; drive means, including a shaft mounted above said central walls, for reciprocating said plungers upwardly and downwardly at different times; a valve adapted to cooperate with a dischargeopening in the bottom of said tank beneath each plunger, for removing settled material from said compartments; a set of outwardly inclined grate bars extending laterally from said central walls to said side walls at each side, in the lower portion of each compartment; a valve cooperating with an outlet opening in the side wall of said tank just above the lower ends of each set of grate bars; and means including a shaft disposed beneath said tank and actuated from said drive means having means for opening each said bottom valve only on an upward stroke of the corresponding plunger thereabove.

2. In apparatus for removing relatively heavy material from articles adapted to be moved along a flume by liquid, including a reciprocating plunger moved upwardly and downwardly to impart a jigging motion to said liquid, means providing spaced openings in the manner of grate bars for limiting downward movement of articles and material of a predetermined size, means for collecting relatively heavier but smaller material A passing through said spaced openings, and valve means generally below said plunger for removal of such collected smaller material,the improvement which comprises means for opening and closing said valve means in synchronization with the movement of said plunger, said valve means being opened only during an upward stroke of said plunger.

3. In apparatus for removing relatively heavy material from articles adapted to be moved along a flume by liquid, as defined in claim 2, including a plurality of plungers, and collecting means and valve means for each said plunger, wherein each said valve means is opened on alternate upward strokes of the corresponding plunger.

4. Apparatus for removing relatively heavy material from articles adapted to be moved along a flume by a liquid comprising a flow channel section divided by transverse partitions in the lower liquid flow levels thereof into a plurality of compartments, sections adjacent said compartments adapted to hold liquid to substantially the same depth as the flow level in said channel, means providing spaced openings disposed in said channel in a position intermediate the bottom of said channel and the top liquid flow level, plungers in said adjacent sections, drive means for imparting reciprocal motion to said plungers thereby causing a jigging motion of said liquid, discharge openings in the bottom of said channel at positions adjacent said plungers, poppet-type valves having the valve heads thereof disposed in said channel for controlling the flow through said opening, valve operating means for automatically operating said. valves, and means interconnecting said valve operating means and said plunger drive means in such manner that said valves are open when said plungers are being moved upwardly by the plunger drive means, said valve heads when in the opened position being effective as flow dividers to separate solid particles from the liquid flowing toward said plungers thereby facilitating the removal of said solid particles through said openmgs.

HERMAN E. ZI'IKOWSKI.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 217,064 Clark July 1, 1879 1,314,335 Kellogg Aug. 26, 1919 1,430,896 Franklin Oct. 3, 1942 2,389,611 Clark Nov. 27, 1945 2,414,721 Cooper Jan. 21, 1947 

